FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Mr. Ypsi]

I know Mr Y and formerd3db would probably like to see this   http://mgoblog.com/content/lacrosse-announcement-press-conference-notes

Michigan made men's and women's lacrosse official varsity sports today.



For the rest of you, carry on.

Thanks for posting this, sac! +k

Something I don't recall ever seeing before: they're legally required to post the men's coaching position, but Brandon flat-out told people to not waste their time - he already knows who the coach will be!  I wish more employers would be that honest.

[ThunderHead]

Great for Lacrosse - though I don't personally enjoy the sport, I know many people that do. I'm glad Michigan took the lead here, hopefully others will follow.

Go Trine!!!

[formerd3db]

sac:

I join Mr. Ypsi in saying thanks to you for posting the U of Mich lacrosse info.  I had heard quite a while back that Michigan was going to elevate their program from "virtual varsity" to full varsity status and that it was, indeed, going to be this year. I played in a men's post-collegiate lacrosse league last year and before and one of the teams was comprised of all former U of Michigan players of recent.  They were very, very good.  Anyway, yes, I agree with ThunderHead and Mr. Ypsi that is great to see them do this, along with the other Michigan schools who have and are going this route at their respective levels (Adrian, Trine, Albion, U of Detroit-Mercy, Alma, Olivet).

Along with the other schools we've talked about who are going to do this in another year or so i.e. Hope, possibly Calvin (or those who should do this), Michigan State should reinstate their program to full varsity status.  However, I have heard from my inside sources there, that this is not going to happen, which is unfortunate, IMO.

[BOYA87]

Is Trine the only MIAA school that has Lacrosse as a varsity sport?!

Any thoughts on how this might affect recruiting for these smaller schools looking for lax players?  Obviously there is usually a talent disparity between DI and DIII athletics but since there arent many teams in the midwest with varsity lax we might stand to lose some pretty talented kids that wanted to stay in the Mid West.

I think its a great sport!  It took me awhile to understand all the rules but its fun to watch.  and if you have ever tried catching a ball in that small net...it is TOUGH!  Now try doing it while running and people swining sticks at you!

[Raider 68]

Is Trine the only MIAA school that has Lacrosse as a varsity sport?!

Any thoughts on how this might affect recruiting for these smaller schools looking for lax players?  Obviously there is usually a talent disparity between DI and DIII athletics but since there arent many teams in the midwest with varsity lax we might stand to lose some pretty talented kids that wanted to stay in the Mid West.

I think its a great sport!  It took me awhile to understand all the rules but its fun to watch.  and if you have ever tried catching a ball in that small net...it is TOUGH!  Now try doing it while running and people swining sticks at you!

Lacrosse must be catching on. Mount Union will start this fall for both men and women. In 2011 as a club team, then a varsity sport in 2012!

[formerd3db]

BOYA87:

You missed (inadvertently and understandably, of course) the previous discussions on this topic a while back here on this board and some others.  Regarding the MIAA, Trine, Adrian and Albion all have varsity lacrosse teams and play in the Midwest Lacrosee Conference; with Alma and Olivet starting varsity lacrosse next year as independents (I believe that Olivet is only doing women's lacrosse at first? Perhaps OC_SID can clarify this for us).  Hope and Calvin have "virtual varsity" club teams and play in the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association, which is one of the 10 or so men's collegiate lacrosse leagues in the national Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association, that runs club collegiate lacrosse.  Hope (and probably Calvin) has/have plans to upgrade to full varsity desigantion in 2013 (it was supposed to happen next year in 2012, however, apparently, due to Trine, Adrian and Albion not being able to get out of their committment in the MLC until then, these other MIAA schools have decided to either wait and/or go independent DIII lacrosse as noted above, unit the MIAA can encompass the majority of its member schools.

 

[D306]

To tie Lacrosse to Football

I am glad to see the increase in interest and official Varisty programs
Another avenue to bring student athletes to the MIAA, and generate school spirit
Graet sport high energy, a great deal of scoring and action if you understand the game.

The HS that I was/am associated with the coaching staff.
We have offered a full Varsity Lacrosse program for many years.
From a Football stand point which I always viewed things as a way to improve my FB players LOL

LaCrosse was a great off-season conditioining program, for speed, agility, team work. WR, DB, RB,LB
Wrestling for the linemen, LB build balance, endurance, strength, leverage, hand to hand combat, mental toughness.
Hockey speed, fitness, toughness.mental toughness Nasty attitude LB, RB, DB, WR
Soccer speed, agility, endurance DB, WR, RB
Baseball, hand eye coordination, quick hips, good soft hands for WR, RB, QB
Basketball WR, DB, RB, QB agility, endurance, quick hips
Track, Cross Country, running form, and endurance, core strength, balance for the throwers

On a serious note I like to see our athletes play multiple sports, great cross training and produces a well rounded Student athlete, does not burn the students out on a sport.

Not a big fan of the 7on7 ltravel eagues becoming too much like AAU basketball, a way to manipulate kids and agents, pimping our youth out in my mind.. Not in all caases but way too many now.

Better settle the NFL BS soon, Billionaires and Millionaires whining about how to split the fools gold. Even football can lose its fan base if you treat us this bad long enough.

[formerd3db]

D306:

Good to hear from you.  You make some good points.  The only aspect I think is a difficult one, however, is regarding student-athletes trying to do two sports.  In today's world, that is extremely difficult for the majority of student-athletes to do at the collegiate level.  Of course, there will always be those handful that do, and all kudos for them who are able to make that work.  Yet, with most academic tracks now, that is almost impossible and/or again, very, very difficult to do.  My own brother played two sports in college - and I still don't know how he did it.  I had all I could handle with football alone in college.  The time that would have been missed from studying and picking up required classes that you could not take in the fall, would have been a downfall.  Add to that DIII having official spring practice now and thus it is an even more challenging situation for many.  Regarding lacrosse, some teams only practice 3 days a week because of the games and that takes a huge chunck out of study time for those guys and gals (I guess similar schedule to baseball used to be, although the MIAA league competition is scheduled over the two weekend days Fri/Sat for baseball).  Bottom line is that it can be done, but one has to make a choice and then work like mad to make sure they make the grade both on the field and in the class room.  That is not to say people can't handle doing two sports because, again, many do and they do quite well.

I also agree with you about the AAU basketball and the football 7-on-7 trying to reach a similar venue.  I am not a fan of either of those for many reasons.  I am glad to see that the NCAA is starting to look into this and for some type of control- at least it's a start - and I don't agree with the NCAA on a lot of things!

Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts/opinions.  Glad you are still planning on posting on occasion.  I hope all is well with you and yours and the family.

[formerd3db]

Raider68:

That is great news that Mount is adding lacrosse.  They are going the route that should be a smooth transition rather than just "jumping in with two feet" and/or "cannonballing it"!

[sflzman]

To tie Lacrosse to Football

Many Alma players currently do Club Lacrosse in the spring

[Mr. Ypsi]

To tie Lacrosse to Football

Many Alma players currently do Club Lacrosse in the spring

I can easily imagine many football players concurring with my elder son's stated reason for loving LaX (he was the founding captain and leading scorer when his high school started the sport): "I like hitting people with sticks!"

[formerd3db]

To tie Lacrosse to Football

Many Alma players currently do Club Lacrosse in the spring

I can easily imagine many football players concurring with my elder son's stated reason for loving LaX (he was the founding captain and leading scorer when his high school started the sport): "I like hitting people with sticks!"

Yes, Mr. Ypsi!  It is the only sport (or activity, for that matter that I can think of) in which you can legally "beat/hit someone with a stick"!   Also, I just like it because I like[ed] the contact - to hit people! But...of course, the NCAA is coming down hard on that due to the concussion issues as has been discussed, although it is more directed at hits to the head as opposed to some legit contact.

[OC_SID]

formerd3db, you are half correct for Olivet. Our women's lacrosse team played its first season as a DIII independent last spring. We played 10 games against 4-year programs albeit only 3 games I believe were against NCAA schools. The other 7 were against NAIA opponents. As well, we played a handful against club teams. Our "official" record was 2-8 with both wins against Davenport.

You are correct the plan is just women's lacrosse.

[Mr. Ypsi]

d3db, I'm fairly sure that LaX helmets are adequate protection again stick hits (I suspect the stick would break long before any concussion risk), but the rest of the body is unprotected.  In David's senior year, their first playoff game was against one of the few teams they had beaten.  In that win, David had 3 goals and two assists in a 5-3 win.  In the first 30 seconds of the playoff game, a guy whacked the side of David's knee so hard that he was ineffective the rest of the game (he still had one assist - he's a tough kid - but his knee buckled anytime he tried to set for a shot).  (David is so naively optimistic about sports that he thought the guy just missed on an attempted takeaway - the guy was clearly an assassin, probably at his coach's instruction. )  Naturally, they lost.

[cave2bens]

Yes, Mr. Ypsi!  It is the only sport (or activity, for that matter that I can think of) in which you can legally "beat/hit someone with a stick"!   Also, I just like it because I like[ed] the contact - to hit people! But...of course, the NCAA is coming down hard on that due to the concussion issues as has been discussed, although it is more directed at hits to the head as opposed to some legit contact.

Hurling?... 

Slainte!  Hope y'all are well and enjoying the springtime (snow here, in the mountains and high valleys of Kleine Karoo, yesterday)